Winter Pin Ups

RASPBERRIES!!!

So I've been a bit lazy about my Pin Up posts- so I'm making up for it right now with a marathon Pin Up extravaganza.


Or just a big post.


Ok... Here it goes!

Lookin' Good: Face Masks

There are few things I relish more than a day on the couch with a glass of wine, a good movie and a face mask.

It sounds silly and a little self indulgent, and it is, but I don't mind. I mean, why should a girl turn down a little self indulgence once in a while? 

I like to slather on a mask, plop down for some TV and just SIT. 

Then I wash it all off, take a washcloth with hot water and slap that on my face for a minute, then smooth on some vitamin E cream and call it a day. 

I have some favorite masks. I have combination skin, so mine are mostly in the clean-out-those-pores verity. 

My favorites are Freeman's Clay Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal, Freeman's Anti-Stress Mask, Origin's Clear Improvement and Soap & Glory's Fab Pore (which I talked about here as well- what can I say; I'm a fan!)

What about you guys? What are your favorite masks/ ways to indulge?

Happy Belly: Accidental Broccoli Soup

Sometimes you mean to make one thing but end up with another very tasty thing.

One of those sometimes was last night.


See, I set out to make zucchini-basil soup. It sounded so good and refreshing and delicious that I marched myself right over to Whole Foods and got the two pounds of zucchini and herbs needed to make it.

Then I got home and realized I had bought cucumbers instead of zucchini.

And by 'realized' I mean I was cheerfully chopping them up when my roommate looked over and said, "You know those are cucumbers, right?"




In my defense, they look very much alike and are stocked next to each other.


Anyways, I already had my onions and garlic going so I had to make something. Luckily, I had broccoli, the unsung hero of most dinners.


It turned out very very yummy. And a very pretty color.




Here's the recipe if you want to try it:

Accidental, or 'Ruh-Row' Broccoli soup

2 lbs broccoli
1/2 and onion
Garlic
Olive oil
A handful of basil
4 cups chicken broth
Salt and Pepper

Dice the onion and garlic and get them sautéing at the bottom of a soup pot in the olive oil. While thats getting going, cut up the broccoli into smallish (think 1-2 inch) pieces. Once the onions are soft and a little see-through, add the broccoli. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let that sit stirring occasionally so nothing burns until the broccoli is soft. Then, add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Take it off the heat. Blend the veggies and broth either in a blender or in the pot with a hand blender  (I prefer the hand blender- less clean up). Lightly chop the basil and add to the pot. Blend until it's as smooth as you like. Serve with a dollop of cream, some parmesan, or just in a mug; all options are tasty.

Enjoy!

A Nail Update

SO as you may remember, I bite my nails.

Well, used to.

See over the past few months,  I've really been trying to kick the habit this time.


Here are the fruits of my labor!

I stuck to keeping my nails painted for about two weeks, then started to leave them bare. I also use Booda Butter on them every day (thanks to my amazing cousin)! It has all kinds of oils and butters that melt into your nails and take them from limp, sad flaky nails to Titan nails of victory. ANd when you've been biting your nails for 20 years, they need all the help they can get.

So I've made it this far, and I promise to keep checking in and showing you my favorite polishes and nail looks- hopefully that'll keep me on the straight and narrow (biting-wise)

What about you guys? Do you have any special nail remedies or products?

Happy Belly: Kale Chips

I have an obsession.

Kale chips.

I love kale anyways, but popping it in the oven and crisping it up with salt makes it the best thing since sliced bread. Nope- it's better. Definitely better.

So here's how its done: 

Preheat oven at 350° -375°.

Then rip up the kale into yummy chip sized pieces and lay them out on a cookie sheet.

Spray it all down with Pam (thats my quick trick).

Sprinkle with salt and garlic powder.

Pop them in the oven for 7-10 minutes.

BOOM- you got the tastiest treat under the sun. 

What about you guys? Whats your favorite snack right now?

Quilting for Funzies

So I'm making a quilt.

Yup- I started a big project. My goal is to, well... actually finish this one.

I have a habit of starting things like scarfs and hats, etc and never finishing them. But not this time.

See, this one is compact, adorable, and has a no-pressure time frame. And it can be done whenever I fell it is done (or I run out of fabric- whichever comes first).


So here's the process:

I tack small squares of fabric to my amazing tiny hexagons.

Then, I stitch the hexagons together making flowers.

When I have enough of those, I sew them all together.

To finish it off, I undo the tack stitched and remove the papers.

TaDa!!! I have a quilt top.

It's coming along fairly well so far, I think. I'm just at the flower making phase, but I think its going well. I'll keep you updated on how its going!

Welcome to 2013

Hello!

Sorry it has been so long since I posted; I got beyond swept up in travel and the holidays.

Seriously, a LOT has happened since I last posted. I got to see two of my best friends, went to Charleston, SC for the first time, and got to meet the newest member of my family, my dear cousins new baby!

Other than that, I spent the bulk of the holidays soaking up as much puppy time as possible.

See, when I lived with my other cousin in New York last year, her dogs had puppies. I fell head over heals for one of the puppies in particular, and then proceeded to convince my parents to get this dog.

It didn't take much convincing. 

So I naturally spent the majority of my break hanging out with the family and snuggling this little nugget. 

But fear not, I'm back now. Look out for more food posts, more outfit posts, and well, more me. 

Happy New Year, everyone!!!!